Question

Use the list below to answer this question. Wastewater is made up of many different constituents, which one in your opinion create the greatest risks to human habitation? Natural habitation? Which ones are reasonably inert? Is treatment the only way to prevent these elements from entering the wastewater stream?

•water ( > 95%) which is often added during flushing to carry the waste down a drain

•Pathogens such as bacteria, viruses, prions and parasitic worms.

•Non-pathogenic bacteria(> 100,000 / ml for sewage)

•Organic particles such as feces, hairs, food, vomit, paper fibres, plant material,humus, etc.

•Soluble organic material such as urea, fruit sugars, soluble proteins, drugs,pharmaceuticals, etc.

•Inorganic particles such as sand, grit,metal particles, ceramics, etc.

•Soluble inorganic material such as ammonia, road-salt, sea-salt, cyanide,hydrogen sulphide, thiocyanates, thiosulphates, etc.

•Animals such as protozoa, insects, arthropods, small fish, etc.

•Macro-solids such as sanitary towels,nappies/ diapers, condoms, needles,children's toys, dead pets, body parts, etc.

•Gases such as hydrogen sulphide, carbon dioxide, methane, etc.

•Emulsions such as paints, adhesives, myonnaise, hair colours emulsified oils,etc.

•Toxins such as pesticides, poisons, herbicides, etc.

Answer 1

The pathogens such as bacteria, viruses, prions and parasitic worms create the greatest risk to the human habitation.

Organic particles, animals such as protozoa, insects, arthropods, small fishes, macrosolids, and gases are also the greatest risk to the human habitation as they induces unhygienic conditions.

2. Soluble organic and inorganic materials, emulsions and toxins are the greatest risk to the natural habitation as they lead to the infertility of soil. Also, the gases and macro solids are the risk factors as they pollute the environment.

3. Water, non pathogenic bacteria, and inorganic particles such as sand, grit, metal particles, ceramics, etc are the inert materials.

4. No, treatment is not only way to prevent these material from entering the wastewater. Cleanliness of our nearby area of human habitation is the main way to prevent these material from entering the wastewater. Also, the awareness of hygienic conditions and different diseases caused by unhygienic conditions is also essential for the same.